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Martin in the UK

@izzythedog.bsky.social
468 followers 458 following 38 posts

UK IT contractor, obsessive photographer and massive fan of Ukraine. All photos are taken by me (apart from reposts) and they're mine, OK?

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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
I have customers who are using Claude for data analysis, marketing and various other things. They don't realise that Claude is busily hoovering up anything that might be useful from their data while it's there. I've worked in tech for 36 years and I won't load it. It takes more than it gives.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
The catchlight in the eyes says 2 or 3 studio lights - "wildlife" or captive subject?
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
I shudder when I think of the 100's of Dell computers I've sold over the last 35 years that in some small way paid for Michael Dell's wife to look like that. Obscene wealth creates monsters.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
@helenbennett.bsky.social has set today's #BirdOfTheDay as #BirdSupermodel "strike a pose". Alt: #UnsungBirds any underrated bird that needs the spotlight. This is a local Jackdaw taken 2 days ago and it has leucism (loss of pigmentation) - it fits both I think for a twofer 😄
A Jackdaw with leucism, the partial loss of pigmentation in feathers, is standing on a lawn with its head tilted as if posing for the camera. Both eyes are visible and appear to have eye contact with me when I took the photograph, sadly not, if it had seen me it would have flown away, they are very wary of humans.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Thanks Mairead, I can see from your excellent posts that you're a big fan of insects too. I'll photograph anything but insects (and squirrels) are top of my list 😀
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
#BirdOfTheDay theme #WingsOpenNotFlying A male Northern Wheatear captured in Scotland a while ago. #Wildlife #BirdPhotography #photography #ECK
A male Northern Wheatear, identified from its blue/grey, white, orange and black plumage, is perched on a rock covered in moss and lichen. The bird is facing to the left and has its wings outstretched in the bright sunshine. The background is out of focus heather and bracken typical of the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, Western Scotland, where the picture was taken.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
👌
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Today's Alt #BirdOfTheDay theme is #LongBeak, birds with long beaks set by @robcrank68.bsky.social for @alan678.bsky.social I'm having an oystercatcher splurge at the moment, this one is on a beach surrounded by worm casts. An all you can eat buffet for a bird with a long beak. #ECK #photography
An oystercatcher is standing on one leg on a beach facing left. The tide is going out and there are numerous marine worm casts on the beach which provide food to birds like oystercatchers. The scene is in strong midday sunlight accentuating the black and white plumage, the orange eye colour and the long orange beak.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Banded Demoiselle resting on a grass seed head. #Macro #ECK #Photography #NaturePhotography #Insects #FlyDay #Bugsky
A male Banded Demoiselle, a large species of damselfly, is pictured perched on a cocks-foot grass seed head in bright, backlit, sunlight. The male of the species is vivid blue with black bands across its wings. The background is light green, out of focus, foliage.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
This is art 👌
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
#BirdoftheDay today is #Black&White Its nice to see some "arty" images in other posts where monochrome is adding something. Here's an Oystercatcher who always look good in mono but the water surface is transformed too. #ECK #photo #photography #birdphotography #nature #wildlife
An Oystercatcher is pictured in monochrome flying from left to right over water. The wings are in the downward beat position and are almost touching the water surface with a faint reflection in the broken  surface. The slight ripple in the water surface is accentuated by the lack of colour and the grey background of the water provides a striking contrast with the predominantly black and white plumage of the bird.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
He knows his Bible - "thou shalt not know thine sofa" isn't in there either so he got away with that one. What a fraud that man is.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
#BirdOfTheDay theme is #BestOfTheMonth Not many birds this month, mostly insects but I never seem to have a long lens when I see the Nuthatch. So I took this with a 90mm macro lens and cropped it. It's just a bit of fun isn't it? @lawrencejohnsauter.bsky.social I saw your post, don't worry just post
A Nuthatch is perched on the trunk of a walnut tree in it's usual "head down" position. A very colourful and striking bird that appears everyday in our garden. The background is out of focus green foliage.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I saw you did that, sneaky. I'm not always with it when I'm posting on here, sometimes I forget to upload the image file 🤣
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
#BirdOfTheday Alt theme is #Paridae, any of the species. Blue Tit on a garden cane. #photography
A Eurasian Blue Tit is perched on the end of a broken garden cane, side on and looking down. The background is out of focus and blurred brown providing a striking contrast with the colours of the bird.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The main crankcase/barrel/head all seem to be the same as this one (1932 Rudge Special) but a different gearbox (hand change) at a time when foot change was an extra/option. The frame on your picture looks a bit bespoke with that down tube?
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I forgot to add the picture!
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I managed to find you some bokeh balls (lots) for my 2nd post on #BirdOfTheDay @helenbennett.bsky.social (Bonus points for any bokeh balls! ☺️🪶📷️) An ever so slightly soft focus Goldfinch in a sapling.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Thanks, it was a first for me too but please ignore my Alt text, it's late, the wings are in the downbeat position not upbeat ☹️
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I'm a bit late but today's #BirdOfTheDay Alt theme #AwkwardAvian - any bird captured in a silly, clumsy or strange position! Not a great picture technically but illustrates how agile a Red Kite is, banking hard at speed, head turned 90 degrees to keep everything aligned and fully focussed.
A Red Kite against a bright blue sky, tilted at around 45 degrees in a banking dive, wings in the upward position about to make a down beat, tail extended and flared to assist in the tight turn.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
#Stunday Doing what he loved to do, retrieving a stick from a lake. Such a handsome boy, long gone but never forgotten. #photography #dogs
A German Shepherd dog is pictured head on climbing out of a lake after retrieving a stick. Water droplets are dripping from his fur. The foreground grass, reeds and daisies on the bank are out of focus and the background of the lake is blurred blue.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I'm not disagreeing but they're all over a Viburnum bush in our garden at the moment, as well as the Ivy.
An Ivy Bee gathers pollen from a white and pink Viburnum flower head.An Ivy Bee sips nectar from a sticky Ivy flower globe.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Perfect light, great image 👌
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
About £19.00 for a packet of 20 now but No 6 are long gone.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I've never seen one that "new", it looks absolutely pristine. Thanks for sharing 👍
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Perfect composition, great image.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Good. The public needs to get involved and call out these criminals and hold their employers to account. Any gamebird shoot owner whose employee commits wildlife crime should be liable for their actions under the law and face similar criminal prosecution.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I think I messed up and mine was actually taken near Glenelg on the mainland, probably near the ferry. I've attached the picture. I see you've taken the bridge but the ferry is great if you don't mind the tortuous route to get to it. Enjoy Skye.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I posted one on Sunday from a point to the left of yours. Is that Portree? Because I can't remember where I took mine around 16 years ago.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Every time I see one of your pictures I think "I need to buy a flash" 👌
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
The #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #LightAndShadow I managed to find a Jackdaw caught in a "spotlight" of morning sunshine on a North facing roof. Previously posted. Yesterdays post of a Gull would fit this theme, why does that happen? #birds #photography #ECK #ukbirds #wildlife #ukwildlife #owl
A young Jackdaw is perched on a tiled roof in partial shadow except for a ray of sunshine highlighting its head and back.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
"That's the last one, no more posing! Now bugger off and leave me alone" #CaptionThatBird #BirdOfTheDay
A very obliging Herring Gull adopting a very striking, side on profile against a very dark and murky background. Spot metering and quite a big crop resulted in a decent picture. Taken in Ardnamurchan, Scotland, a few years ago.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
@atlanticbirding.bsky.social has specified today’s #BirdOfTheDay is #Elegant looking birds. Elegant - a very subjective word! The Kestrel is one of the most elegant birds in all respects so that's what I'm posting. Taken earlier this year in the field next to our house. #Birds #ECK
A female Kestrel is perched on a very thin twig of a sapling tree, devoid of leaves, against a clear, pale blue sky. Taken late afternoon in February, the sun is low and casts a soft yellow light on the Kestrel's plumage.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Per @denterrick.bsky.social "We're trying to fill Graham's feed @oldmanrambling.bsky.social with Robins on his dearly missed Janet's 83rd birthday." Please post a robin if you can with the hashtag #ForJanet So here's a Robin I've never previously posted. #Birds #Robins #ForJanet
A Robin is perched on a tangle of lichen covered branches in a tree.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Its #FlyDay Red Kite I post a lot of Red Kites but it's because I have a lot of archive pictures of them going back 15+ years. #photography #wildlife #ECK #birds #BirdsInFlight #birdsky #nature #RedKite
Red Kite in flight, wings outstretched, taken in bright sunlight against a clear blue sky in the Scottish Borders a while ago.
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Unfortunately they're in abundance because the gamekeepers have released them from their pens ready for the game shooting season which starts on 1st October ☹️
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Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Garden Cross Spider hanging around in the garden yesterday. #macromonday #arachnid #bugsky #invertebrates #photography #ECK
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